convict disease...Blue spot on the gill.

[fmohasse]

Hi Everyone,
I recently started a new tanks and decided to try zebrra convict cichlid. (my first cichlid). I initially started with two baby convict for a week and I added another bigger pair recently. I have a 20 gallon tank and the decoration has two distinct hiding places on the either side of the tank. The new pair seems to get along fine and they are comfortably took over the entire tank. All of a sudden this dark blue spot appear underneat thier gill. all my fishes had this spots but it is by far worse in my new bigger female. i increased the water temperature add salt and changed their water in two days the spot seems to be disappearing from all the fish but the big female. I am not sure if anyone else had this problem with thier fish and might know any possible solution or proper medication since the dark spot is now expanding to my females bellly!!!!! I have already done some reasearch on it and this might be "costia protoza parasite" [long name for blue spot]. I am not sure if this is the disease but i would really need some help before i lose by happy couple!!

thanks alot
far

[chc]

Perhaps your diagnosis is correct, but it would be rare. More likely, it is normal coloration signifying that the female is "ripening" and ready to breed. There are certain races of Convict that have a blue sheen on their underbellies and chins. Also, the female is always the more colorful of the sexes. Normally, she will get a little color around her abdomen when she's full of eggs (usually yellow, gold, or orange). If she is ripening, your water changes are just making her more ready to go, hence the spreading of the color.

Is there any way you can post a picture? That's the only way to get a certain diagnosis.

[thatfishguy]

as a convict breeder ide realy have to say shes rippening ,, ive always used tetra cichlid vital for my cons

[Aryia Crazey]

2 things fmohasse one is as your convicts mature, you will probabilly have a great deal of agression between the 2 pairs in a tank that size. I had 2 pairs in a 45 and they would fight non-stop. I really cant say what they have, but if your fairly sure its Protoza you might want to look at a med. called Paragon II (not sure if thats spelled right but close =). I have used it on my oscars and it did the trick.